WASHINGTON (AP) - Top Democrats say Republicans are acting like arsonists and anarchists with bombs strapped to their chests. Some Republicans say President Barack Obama's health care law will kill women and children, drawing comparisons to Nazis or the return of runaway slaves.

Even for a city accustomed to hyperbole, the ongoing spats over spending, borrowing and Obamacare have attracted more than their share of over-the-top rhetoric.

Most Americans may tune it out. But it's a good bet that the harsh accusations don't make it easier for the two sides to come together.

In the near term, the language may be geared toward building public support for each side's position. But both sides also want to ensure their opponent gets blamed if the government shuts down or the U.S. can't pay its debts.